Showing posts with label Crayfish Curry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crayfish Curry. Show all posts

Friday, March 15, 2013

LUNCH AT EXPO WESTERN CAPE, EX - EXPO WP


Crayfish Curry is one of Cape Town's delectable meals, better known locally as Kreef Kerrie and is one of the most desirable seafood in the Cape. It's been the staple diet of subsistence fisherman and the lower income groups along the coastal regions of  South African for scores of years. However, today Crayfish has become a sort after commodity and fetch huge prices in restaurants. It is recognized as a international delicacy and eaten in several countries that don't have Crayfish in their waters and even in inland countries without seas.  Crayfish curry was extremely popular at EXPO WP and many many families flocked over weekends to have  Crayfish for lunch at Expo Western Cape, served with savoury white rice. The locals call it "gesmoored rys". Essentially braised rice flavoured with cardamon, cinnamon sticks and butter.  This meal isn't only mouth watering but also taste bud tantalizing.

A delectable pot of tangy Crayfish Curry.
South Africa exports the bulk of its Crayfish which the government calls "Red Gold". France as a country has been buying live Crayfish from South Africa for years, to be bred in the seas locally. Spain and Portugal and Japan are huge on South African sea products especially long line hake, tunny, albacore, abellone (perlemoen) and last but not least Crayfish. But these exports and GDP comes at the detriment of the South African population, because we have government legislated catch restriction and size restrictions. Contravening these regulations are punishable by law, however if and when we do acquire a few crayfish, we turn it into a feast.

Succulent Crayfish tails in a tangy spicy gravy on a bed of "gesmoorde" rice. 
Ever since the price of Crayfish has gone through the roof, Crayfish tail curry has become very popular at Weddings, which gives it a stamp of affluence. Crayfish can be prepared in various ways. A favorite is to cut off its tail, slice it open lengthwise, remove its intestinal tract, wash it in cold water and cover it with garlic butter, salt and ground pepper then grill it. Crayfish goes very well in a seafood potjiekos and is very popular with campers. Crayfish tails can also be grilled over an open flame. Crayfish is best cooked in salt water or seawater and eaten with salads with a dash of lemon and some "corn on the cob".

There are several other ways to prepare crayfish but Crayfish Curry is unique to Cape Town. The larger Crayfish has thick legs filled with the same flesh as is in the tails. A typical family South African eating Crayfish simply enjoys cracking the legs with their teeth to remove and eat the delicious flesh inside. Crayfish are seasonal are abundant here in South, along both our Atlantic coast as well as in False Bay - Indian Ocean during catch season. Many, many tourists flock to our local restaurants during this period to sample the cuisine from our seas.

Should you be interested in making your own Crayfish Curry, you can get the recipe at Foods of the Cape. But is you interested in making some QUICK CASH, check this out.

Making Money the Easy Way...

A succlent whole lamb slow roasted to golden brown at a Wedding in Cape Town.
Succulent Roasted Lamb at Wedding.


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Thursday, April 15, 2010

LUNCH AT EXPO WP


EXPO WP is the newest business hub in the Western Cape, destined to become a "One Stop Shop" for tourists. Tourists looking to buy some curios, will find no bigger or better venue anywhere else but curios isn't the only product on offer at EXPO. We have food!

The first thing that comes to mind when the word Foreign Tourist is mentioned is FOOD.  Considering that virtually every nationality prides itself on its food.  As in "Green Thai Curry" or Chinese "Chow Mein" or  "Stirfry " or "German Swine und Kartoffeln und Sour Kraut"  or kettle fried "English Fish and Chips"  or "Scottish Haggis" or "Spanish Seafood Paella" even "Japanese Sushi" only  time will tell whether or not all these Foods will become available on the EXPO WP menu, but what we have on offer, is probably as delectable if not more so. Who can resist a plate of Crayfish Curry, Cape Malay style.  Here is just a sampling of what is available for under R50-00 at EXPO WP. It is not "a la carte" but you could always buy a take-away and do the "a la carte" in the privacy of your own home. Enjoy! Should you prefer to make your own tasty foods  Cape Malay Foods  recipes can be viewed  here at Foods of the Cape.

Crayfish tails in a thick curry sauce served with fragrant basmati rice.
Photographs courtesy of PhotoJani Photographic Studios Ph 084 7458258

Fish an Chips many sound so ordinary but "Masala Snoek" available at EXPO WP is extraordinary, with a  taste that you will certainly come back for. The spices are a family secret much like that of the Colonel of KFC but better. The Chips are ... just wow, once again the sprinkle is a trade secret. So, I am more than certain Tourists coming to Cape Town for the Soccer World Cup will flock to EXPO WP in order to sample Cape Town cusine on the go. Snoek is a fish not commonly found else where in the World and has become a token of the Cape. Hassan's Fisheries and Take Aways makes the tastiest "Masala Snoek" this side of the Limpopo.

Fried snoek in a hot Masala sauce and potato chips with a spicy sprinle. 
 Photographs courtesy of Photo Jani Photographic Studios at the EXPO stall C49

But wait Fish and Chips are not the only foods available, there is a full menu from Burger World with Tikka Chicken Indian Style. Burger World supplies humongous portions for those fast food lovers, and for those who like "to size it up." There is no need to say much about their food because the menu and the taste says it all.


Other vendors like Fancy Nancy Restaurant have Traditional African Meals and so much more on offer. Here is just a sampling of what is available. She has a full time "French Chef" who takes pride in his presentation and speed of preparation.

Photographs courtesy of Photo Jani Photographic Studios at the EXPO stall C49
Ming's supplies the finest breakfast with coffee for under R50-00. Their current setting looks much like a "Japanese Garden" with a wooden foot bridge spanning a pond filled with Koi and Gold fish with plush greenery growing all-over casting shade on the tables whilst you eat. The setting is  tranquil but the best part of Ming's is the Cake. Ming's has coffee and Cake to die for. Here a sample of their breakfast... go on have a a taste!


EXPO WP has so much more on offer, but if you really curious enough, you are invited to come experience it for yourselves. Art & Craft, good food, playpen and face painting and water slide for the kids flanked by coin operated kiddies rides. Music and stage performances and indoor soccer.

An alternative to food is a "Cup of Corn". Corn on the cob has always been a delicious after-meal snack and a must have whenever you smell them being cooked.  But Miller's Corn, sells corn off the cob called "Corn in a Cup" and it is just as delicious, very healthy and totally filling. Served with melted butter and sprinkled with salt to your taste is a really healthy treat.


For the coffee lovers, Craving coffee sells a "mean coffee" but personally I simply love their hot "White Chocolate", but everyone else raves about the cafe Latte. I tried the cafe Latte and its simply divine, have a look not only did I love it, I had two cups, something like chain smoking, perhaps we can call it, "chain coffee bingeing".


Not only did I love the coffee but the Waffles from Waffle Mania was incredible, a freshly baked waffle while you wait, topped with Ice-cream with maple syrup, honey, and raspberry is to die for. Its futile describing something that you definitely have to come sample for yourself. So do your taste buds a favour and visit EXPO WP if just to sample all these delectable treats. Click here for Foods of the Cape.


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